P5B REAR OIL SEAL

[buccaneer]

:-/WHATS THE BEST WAY TO REPLACE THE REAR OIL SEAL IN MY CARAVANETTE
I WILL BE TAKING OUT ENGINE AND BOX .CAN THIS BE REPLACED WITHOUT REMOVING CRANKSHAFT THE ENGINE IS STILL THE ORIDGINAL 1969 UNIT

[Phil Nottingham]

Yes it can as being a 69 it will have the rope seal which can be replaced using the "chinese finger" technique. I have never tried this though

I still think it my be less trouble to drop the crankshaft sufficiently to pull it in more easily

[stantondavies]

In this month's Caravan Club magazine there is a photograph of a 1969 P5B Coupe that was converted into a caravanette in 1971. The owner is one Anthony Moran from Studley and I suspect that he may be the author of the post above from May last year.
The caravanette was rescued from a sandpit sans gearbox and many hours have been spent restoring it. Two years ago the softwood framed caravanette structure had to be rebuilt and was upgraded at the same time.
The owner says he hopes to be at many shows this year and anyone who sees her on the road is more than welcome to stop and have a chat and a cup of tea.
He is asking for information regarding the early construction of the vehicle - I don't know if any member can help.
Sadly, apart from the one post, Buccaneer does not seem to have taken any interest in the Forum.

[Deleted]

I think that there are probably many owners out there who have no interest in the forum - until they encounter a problem - then run to us for help.

More members and contributors are always warmly welcome, aren't they?

Cheers

Adrian

[RichardF]

The chinese finger is still available today and from a UK source for about £20; I actually have an unused kit. I do not have the details with me at present but just incase anyone may be interested, I'll add to this thread tomorrow.

Just checked. KD tools sell the chinese finger kit.
www.kd-tools.com
RichardF
Southampton

[Phil Nottingham]

It takes all sorts - the seal subject has been covered in the mag - how many actually contribute to that source of info?


Less tha 25% of the real club membership have joined this forum - not that many contribute to thsi site really.

Surely the contribution is owning and keeping on the road a P5?

Some go to the AGMs, others write articles for Take 5, others do all the necessary club admin - thats not counting all the suppliers or just those that turn up at rallies/meets . I do not do any of these, apart from some of the rallies.

It would be rather boring to see the same faces everywhere

[dorsetflyer]

Well I was thinking of turning up again at the P4 National, but as its boring seeing the same faces perhaps I won't bother this year.

[Geoff Arthur]

Stop being grumpy you two ! !

[stantondavies]

This topic is drifting a little. My comment on no further contribution by Buccaneer was intended as a lament not a criticism. I for one (perhaps the only one) am hungry to learn more about this caravanette. The photograph shows a very smart looking white coupe with a caravanette sat on the back with a berth jutting forward over the windscreen. The car's front doors look to have been made narrower but that might be a trick of perspective.
As a caravaner who tows his 35 year old caravan with a 40 year old (this month) MkIII, I find the concept of a Rover caravanette interesting. Maybe I am alone as this apparently unique vehicle hasn't stirred any interest as a result of the first post last year, or my highlighting again now.

[dorsetflyer]

Sorry Geoff it's just a wind up nothing serious I hope.

Is that right in that I see your location is now Cornwall? If so welcome to the South West.

[Phil Nottingham]

I too am interested in this conversion and if its the one that first surfaced at the P5PC National at Brooklands many years ago it has been gradually improving all that time! ;D

Its also time the Hearse reappeared or perhaps the elusive Estate!


I doubt if we will go to Kelmarsh this year - as were disappointed with last times and there was no much autojumble either

[Geoff Arthur]

dorsetflyer said:

Sorry Geoff it's just a wind up nothing serious I hope.

Is that right in that I see your location is now Cornwall? If so welcome to the South West.

Yes that is right I am back home where I belong. Thanks for the welcome. It gets more and more calm the further one goes beyond Andover. It never used to snow when I lived here as a kid though!

[johnbirmingham]

Phil's right about dropping the crank , it also gives you a chance to inspect the mains if your'e the type who goes looking for work ! I've "knitted" my own chinese fingers - it only takes a few minutes - not worth the bother of chasing round to buy . Copper wire will do for a "one use disposable" but single strands of cycle brake cable make a stronger job.I hesitate to describe the process ( can one explain a spiral staircase with hands tied behind the back ? )...take 5 or 6 strands of wire about 2ft long ,bend double ; take a broomstick or similar and drive 5 or 6 small nails in the end ; hang a wire loop over each nail ; plait the strands along the stick going right over left , left over right, for a couple of inches ; pull out the nails and slide it off the stick - job done ! The loose ends can be twisted together to fish round the crank . Brake wire can be a bit unruly and will need restraining with sticky tape. In the past when I couldn't get "rope" I used round neoprene cut from an "O" ring ; it worked OK until I left the car standing for a couple of months when it must have stuck to the shaft and destroyed itself on next start up .We do have fun ! Best of luck , John.

[RichardF]

The purpose made kit though does consist of various seal installers and removers, including "bendy" ones for various types of seals that need to be driven out/in. Trying to get the new one in without damage can be as hard as getting the old one out.

RichardF
Southampton

[Phil Nottingham]

Thing is when you have done it it will either still leak or soon start to again!

[johnbirmingham]

I must be either patient or lazy, Richard. When I get round to my seals they've been leaking for so long there's not much left to get out - mainly bits of black string plastered round the bellhousing ! But you're right of course,I can't think of an everyday item to serve as that little corkscrew extracter gizmo . John .
P.S. On this sabbath morn do I detect that "GOD" is a pesimist ?

[Phil Nottingham]

No a realist - I have heard of many reports of them leaking again - mine was converted to the later SD1 type and that started to leak after 30k miles and its no crankcase pressure

[RichardF]

Phil,

Is this a modification available similar to the front one? How is it done?

Regards

RichardF
Southampton

[Phil Nottingham]

It entails machining the block to accept the seal - not really worth it!

[lagain]

I tried the chinese finger method twice, and it did not work. Eventually I had the engine rebuilt with a later seal incorporated. The original rope seal would have presumably been put in at the factory by machine and it is not possible to replicate this. I have also heard of these new seals breaking up and bunging up the filter in the sump. Not recommended.

[Phil Nottingham]

Rope seals were the standard method for many years and indeed even after so provided fitted correctly they should be Ok but if the engine is being rebuilt its probably worth having it converted

[johnbirmingham]

Yes , they do leak again but with a low annual mileage it's tolerable. I cover about 6k p.a.so the job only comes round every 4 yrs or so. That seems to agree roughly with the 30k mentioned above.Funny the original lasted for about 80k though ! I ommited to recomend in my earlier post that some protection for the crank journal is advisable when trimming the excess off the "rope".A feeler gage can be eased in to spare the journal the ravages of the Stanley knife. p.s.Why was my debris in the bellhousing ? Because the breathers were blocked.With regular breather cleaning I now get debris in the strainer gauze like everyone else . Oh, what joy !